Posts by Desirée O

Every month I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Alysha Haugen and Magali Meagher…
Alysha Haugen and Magali Meagher love to bring together their knack for creating music with their knack for creating community, and to do this they’ve just started Toronto’s very own Girls Rock Camp!
Girls Rock Camp Toronto is a day … READ MORE

There are endless contradictions for women and girls to face when trying to understand and explore their identities, and a contradiction that has always fascinated/frustrated me is the one that exists between feminism and sexiness.
We’re seemingly free as feminists to embrace our sexuality, but when it comes to being “sexy” there’s a very blurry line that is impossible to define.
The concept of “sexy” itself is full of personal opinion, cultural influence, and a million debatable … READ MORE

Every month I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Emma Allison…
Emma Allison is a Canadian home schooled teenager who writes and edits for her book blog, Booking Through 365. She hopes to be a young adult librarian when she comes of age. For now, she reads, writes, tweets in excessive quantities and … READ MORE

Every month I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce Tanya Smith…
Dr. Tanya Smith, TCM is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Registered Acupuncturist, AND a Birth Doula. Using acupuncture and traditional herbs to heal women’s reproductive health, she is committed to “throwing back the silk curtain to demystify Chinese Medicine so it becomes a … READ MORE

Every month I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the awesome Billy Pettinger…a.k.a. Billy the Kid…
“Life tends to give us what we want…but never how we expect it.” This is the first line on the “About” page for Billy the Kid’s website. Also known as Billy Pettinger, the singer/songwriter realizes that being “lost” isn’t … READ MORE

It’s funny what pops into your head while you’re falling asleep at night. For instance, “Hey! It’s October - which means I’ve been writing Shameless Women for two years!”
I want to say a huuuuuuge “THANK YOU!” to all of the Shameless Women I have interviewed. Activists, performers, artists, entrepreneurs, techy-ladies, and so much more - you have all been incredibly supportive, incredibly inspiring, and incredibly amazing!
For a full list of all the awesome Shameless Women … READ MORE

Are you ready for a night of artistic awesomeness from all sides? Then you definitely need to check out the co-release party of three creative forces.
The Production Front is pleased to announce MFA: an upcoming co-release on the night of Thursday, October 14th, of Sheila Heti’s third book, HOW SHOULD A PERSON BE? Tomboyfriend (led by Ryan Kamstra)’s first album, DON’T GO TO SCHOOL; and Margaux Williamson’s feature-length movie, TEENAGER HAMLET.
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Margaux, Ryan and Sheila … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce two Shameless Women, the amazing Madeleine Shaw and Suzanne Siemens…
Showing that “it is possible to build a successful business with feminist and social values while bringing prosperity to the local and global community,” partners Madeleine Shaw and Suzanne Siemens have combined their passions, creativity … READ MORE

Are you ready for tantalizing teases, beautiful bodies and, yes, bawdy burlesque?!
It’s time for Toronto Burlesque Festival 2010 “MeTOPolis: The Future of Burlesque!”
Starting July 21st and continuing to the 25th, this year’s ferocious festival packs each night full of “bump ‘n grind” performances including appearances by Roxi Dlite, the first Canadian to win the Burlesque Hall of Fame title.
You’ll also be able to see Satan’s Angel in the flesh, “a veritable legend” who last appeared … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Pearl Luke…
Pearl Luke is the author of two critically acclaimed novels: Madame Zee, which was a book club pick for Chatelaine, Flare, and CanadianLiving magazines and was long-listed for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, is a fictionalization of the life of … READ MORE

As I started to see the links pop up on the internet about Wonder Woman’s new “makeover,” I began to repeat in my head, “Please let it be good! Please let it be good!”
I am not a comic aficionado and bow to those with greater super-hero knowledge than I, but I’ve loved Wonder Woman ever since my much-adored older sister would slip into her Wonder Woman bathing suit and fight poolside crime.
On Twitter, OutTV described … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the amazing Abena Malika…
Have you ever felt the jitters? If Abena Malika has, you wouldn’t know it from the amazing work she does as both an actor and equally talented singer. With an impressive resume that includes credits from both television and theatre, Abena … READ MORE

Thanks to our friends in Tomboyfriend for letting us know about “the antidote is the venom”, an awesome fundraiser for Shape Your Life happening in Toronto on June 26th.
Featuring Ivan E. Coyote, Sasha Van BonBon, Tomboyfriend, DJ Holly Rock, and the Newsgirls boxers.
Here’s the info from the organizers:
Please help us kick off PRIDE week by joining us for a very special fundraising event starring Ivan E. Coyote, Sasha Van BonBon, Tomboyfriend and some of the … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the amazing Suba Sankaran…
Suba Sankaran is a DORA award-winning, JUNO-nominated multi-musician (voice, piano, percussion). Regularly performing across North America, Europe and Asia with world music ensembles Autorickshaw and Trichy’s Trio, she also seamlessly crosses genres with artists such as the FreePlay Duo (with Dylan … READ MORE

A collaborative explosion of creativity between Toronto and its artists.
June 18th, 19th and 20th.
ALL EVENTS FREE!
Over a hundred of Toronto’s established, emerging and youth artists come together under one roof for a multidisciplinary explosion of original works and creative happenings. Artistic disciplines, cultures, and generations blur as Toronto audiences and artists share their creative spark.
Ranging from choreographed pieces inspired by simple, everyday tasks, to vocalists disguised as architectural wonders, to bedtime stories and site-specific … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Shaheen Ashraf…
Sitting on the Board of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Shaheen Ashraf was born in Karachi and grew up in a little town called Khulna (then East Pakistan). She came to Canada in 1976 with 4 young children and once … READ MORE

Honey Jam is celebrating 15 years! The event that helped launch the careers of Jully Black and Nelly Furtado is now the longest running all-female talent showcase in Canada.
And they’re getting ready to do it all again this year! Are YOU ready to audition?
Created by the amazing Ebonnie Rowe (check out an interview with Ebonnie for Shameless Women here) and PhemPhat Entertainment Group, the showcase is legendary for fierce female talents and mind-blowing performances.
Are you … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the awesome Donna Linklater…
Lead vocals and autoharp player for The Billie Hollies, Donna Linklater founded the female folk-noir quartet two and a half years ago when she moved to Toronto after studying opera at Brandon University. The band was most recently involved with the … READ MORE

I’m always intrigued and excited to find out about a band that’s exploring new territory when it comes to what music can do. That’s why it was so great to find out about The Billie Hollies.
The joined talents of Coralie Martens (piano, vocals, French horn), Julia Hambleton (clarinet, bass clarinet, vocals), Janet Morassutti (guitar, vocals), and Donna Linklater (lead vocals, autoharp), make up one super-cool band.
Why?
First, because of their awesome “folk-noir” sound which is unique … READ MORE

Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!
So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Tanya McGinnity…
Tanya McGinnity is proudly a geek and the founder of the Montreal Girl Geek Dinners, an offshoot of the London Girl Geek Dinners, started by Sarah Blow. With the desire to provide a welcoming atmosphere and platform for learning in an … READ MORE